AFL great David King believes West Coast Eagles should demand a string of four home games at end of AFL season to compensate for hub relocation

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West Coast need to push to play a series of home games leading into the finals as compensation for relocating interstate to get the season back under way, according to AFL analyst David King.

The North Melbourne premiership player believes West Coast coach Adam Simpson should ask to have the last month of the Eagles’ fixtures at Optus Stadium should WA open its borders later this year.

The Eagles and Fremantle are looking at basing themselves on the Gold Coast to start the season, with the WA Government’s strict border restrictions stopping them from hosting games for the foreseeable future unless other teams agree to a two-week mandatory quarantine.

Richmond played the final seven games of the 2019 home and away season at the MCG on the way to their second premiership in three years.

King said the Eagles would be better served to be settled heading into the finals rather than get off to a good start, with a strong of games in WA the “perfect preparation” should they be contending for the flag.

“The big discussion will be what is a home game for the West Coast Eagles right now? I know Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide are going to be in the same situation, (but) are you considering a game on the Gold Coast a home game?,” King told SEN.

Camera IconWest Coast are set to be based on the Gold Coast to start the AFL season. Credit: Ian Munro

“If I was Adam Simpson, I’d be saying: ‘Let’s get that last month of home and away football played at home. Let’s get what Richmond got last year.’

“They got seven in a row, well you’re not going to get seven – that’s a one-off because there’s other home teams at the MCG. But let’s aim for four in a row and at home.”

King said the bulk of the Eagles games should be played on the Gold Coast given the club was already at a disadvantage because they relocated.

“If they play eight games in six weeks maybe five of them, potentially six, at the Gold Coast with a couple of travels in there,” he said.

“I think that’s doable and that’s feasible and most clubs would be accepting of that.

“But, again, we weren’t allowing them to train in groups of 10 only three weeks ago, so we’re talking about all these small advantages. No one’s prepared to conceded anything.

“They know it’s wrong and an unbelievable ask of these clubs who are relocating, but then do we really want to concede?